The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-27
JACK WALSH'S ESCAPE.
HOW THE MURDERER OF DAWSON
WALKED OUT OF CAMP.

in Certain Cases-Three Escaped Con,
victs Now in Chatham County-The
Evils of the System.
The escape of Walsh, the murderer OF
Dawson, from the Joplin convict camp
may be the subject of an investigation
The circumstances were very suspicious
though they were not different from those
in many other cases. The lessees have tc
pay a fine every time convict escapes, but
it is not difficult to see that it is far cheaper
TO pay that fine and let consumptive, or
a man afflicted with a chronic disease, go
free than to keep him for ten, fifteen or
twenty years when he is almost unable to
work, and when he must be a con-
slant expense because Of his need
for medical attention and medicines.
Some time ago convict about fifty years
of age and very weak was arrested here and
the lessees were notified of his apprehension,
but they not only failed to offer reward,
as they are required by law to do, but they
took no notice of the letters informing them
of his arrest, and never sent for him. He
was finally turned loose, and he is said now
to be farming in Chatham county
WAISTS SUSPICIOUS ESCAPE.
The Walsh case was a very aggravated
one. Walsh was serving life sentence for
murder but he was put TO driving a cart.
He was not watched, and after one of his
trips he left his cart, and has not been seen
nor heard from since. If his lesSees have
ever made an effort to recapture him or Of
fered a-reward for his arrest, it has never
been made known here the place where he
was convicted. But Walsh was a consump-
tive and not able to do much work, which
may have had its influence with the lessees.
-1Is1 Il hoS hna
very much interested in this case, and de-
sirous of seeing the intent of the jury which
tried the case carried out. 1t was stated
that be had had some correspondence upon
the subject, ana he was asked yesterday if
the statement was true
YES he replied, 81 wrote Principal
Keeper Towers upon the subject, not in my
official capacity, of course. My connection
with every case as Solicitor General ceases
after the final trial. and my interest thence
forth is not different from that of any other
private citizen; nor do l wish to appear as
busying myself about the matter. The du-
ties ola prosecuting officer are sufficiently
disagreeable without following the criminal
beyond the sphere of his official duty.
RADICALLY DEFECTIVE.
1.-THE published account, however, of this
escape was so startling that it very natur-
ally excited expressions of Indignation in
such an occurrence was possible must be
radically defective somewhere. A man
convicted of murder and sentenced to hard
labor for life is permitted, either through
criminal carelessness or venal connivance,
to quietly walk away without hindrance OF
embarrassment"
Have you received any reply to your
letters"
principal Keeper Towers wrote me that
the circumstances surrounding Walsh's es-
cape were very suspicious and that he would
have the matter thoroughly investigated
What has been done or is being done of
course l d. not know, but a month has
elapsed and nothing has been brought to
light Both Col Towers and his assistant
are capable and efficient officers. The
trouble lies beyond their control"
There must be a fault somewhere.
Where does it lie?n
sit would seem that system which DOS
seSses so many revolving features fastened
upon the State by a policy of timid expe-
diency, should at least possess the primary
purpose of trial and conviction, namely,
imprisonment.
LESSED WITH INFIRMITIEs.
"Able-bodied men are not the only dan
gerous members of society, and yet
at some of our convict camps
these are the only convicts
who do not appear TO escape with impunity
1t may be, and doubtless is, true that such
only furnish revenue for the lessees, but
such was not the object whatever may be
the effect of the system do not desire to
be unjust in my criticisms. As far as my
observation has extended, both as a
member of the General Assembly
and as prosecuting officer, some
OF these camps are managed, perhaps as
well as the system permits. Notably the
Dade coal mines where convicts are well
cared for, and escapes are rare But at
some they are of frequent occurrence with
no apparent effort made or expense incur
red to recapture the convicts."
ON THE BOOKS AS DEAD.
"Have any of the convicts sent from
Chatham county except Walsh escapedr'
There are, am reliably informed, three
convicts in the county now. convicted since
have been in Office, all of whom escaped
from the same camp. One of
these men was convicted of
voluntary manslaughter, and two of
burglary, and although the proper authori-
ties have been written to / am not advised
that any reward has ever been
offered by the lessees. At this
camp the care of the authorities seems
to be regulated entirely by the ability OF the
convict to labor hard In one instance
the Sheriff Of this county, in reply TO
letter, was INFORMED that they cared moth
ing about the convict, that he was on their
books as dead. 1t is, of course, cheaper to
make this entry than to pay the fine for an
escape"
CHEAPNESS ITS ONLY VIRTUE.
''Do you think that the one great fault is
with the system itselfP'
ut must be admitted that the question is
perplexing one, difficult in the extreme of
satisfactory solution. Before each Legisla-
ture for the past eight years has it been
agitated with honest and able efforts to
remedy the evils, without a substantial
change being enacted. Any radical reform
means, of course, the expenditure of money
by the State, and yet l am convinced that
system which experience has demonstrated
TO possess so many evils, with
but single virtue to commend
IL, /. g., cheapness, if, indeed,
such should be considered virtue on the
part Of State in dealing with her convicts,
viii not be permitted TO continue in force
much longer. A system which does not
afford society protection, which threatens
private industries and free labor, and at the
same time, so far from reforming, degrades
the convict, must, in the nature of things,
be short-lived / think that public
interest in the proper direction is being
aroused over the State, and GOV. Gordon
will not only receive the hearty approval
and cooperation of the people, but their
lasting gratitude for his determined effort